My Opinion

All three of these age related laws represent a unique aspect to our society. All three of these laws grant specific privileges to each respective age. They are all well known, and are constantly being discussed by today's youth. Because I am 18 years old, I understand how these laws affect us as people, and I know most of the common beliefs of my peers. I personally agree on the age restriction laws regarding the voting age and the driving age. I believe both of these laws accurately depict the necessary ages to vote and drive. In my personal opinion, making a constitutional amendment to grant people of age 18 to vote was a necessary action to establish the representation rights of an adult citizen. Also, I believe the driving age of 16 is a fair age to be able to drive. At 16, young adults can learn great responsibility by being able to drive a car.

manningham-leader.whereilive.com.au

However, I do not agree on all the age discrimination laws. I disagree with the drinking age law. I think it is wrong for our government to withhold revenue if a state lowers the drinking age to 18. Because people  are considered an adult at the age of 18, they should be able to purchase and consume alcohol. It does not make sense for 18 year old to be able to purchase tobacco, vote, and fight for their country, and yet they cannot consume alcohol. These legal adults can serve alcohol, but they cannot drink it themselves. This seems odd and therefore a little unfair. The United States has the highest drinking age because most of the countries have it at 18. I understand that this law is in place to protect the people from harming their bodies and brains. However, by not letting these 18 year   
old adults drink, the definition of a adult in society is not established. This law makes the legal person as a whole unclear. This relates to Citizens United v. FEC because it says law establishes a person. So if at 18 people are considered a legal adult, then why can't they drink?

youthrights.org, NYRA. Washington, DC

Age classification laws define a person as they mature through age. These laws establish the development of a person as they reach adulthood. All of these laws grant certain privileges to the respective ages, and that is why I believe these age classification laws define a person in society.

Law 3-Drinking Age

The drinking age of the United States is set at 21 years old. However, just like voting, it did not always be this way. Before 1984 the legal drinking age varied, but was mostly 18 years old. This changed when the National Minimum Drinking Age Act was passed in 1984. This act stated that revenue would be withheld from states that allowed anyone under the age of 21 to purchase alcohol. Over the years, this law has been the biggest controversy of any law dealing with age. The United States has the highest drinking age in the world, yet other countries set the minimum age at 18. There is an on-going debate on whether or not the minimum drinking age of 21 makes sense.

                                 © 2010 www.alcoholtrainingsouthdakota.com


People are technically considered an adult at the age of 18. When someone turns 18, they are allowed to purchase tobacco, join the army, vote, and marry. All of these things contribute to define that individual as an adult at the age of 18. However, these "adults" are not allowed to purchase/consume alcohol. This is where the definition of a person becomes unclear. This age discrimination law prohibits these people to partake in a certain activity. Therefore, it is unclear whether or not these people are legally defined as a person because they do not meet the age requirement for this specific law.




Jay Brooks © 2009http://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/world-drinking-age-maps/

Law 2- Voting Age

The legal voting age in all 50 states is 18 years old. However, the law has not always been this way. Before 1971 the legal voting age in the United States along with most other countries was 21 years old. The United States took a step by voting to adopt an amendment to the Constitution. The 26th amendment stated that people of 18 years or older should not be denied the right to vote on the basis of age. This amendment was brought upon because of the response of the student activism against the Vietnam War, and it was adopted on July 1, 1971. In response to this amendment, politicians had to make a change to their perspective issues to incorporate the beliefs and issues facing the youth voters.

www2.iath.virginia.edu -"buttons of the sixties"Ages 18-24 & 25+, Voter Turnout in PresidentialYears plu.edu

This law personally affects me because I just turned 18. By law, I can now participate in voting for my country without being discriminated against based on age. This upcoming mid-term election is the first election I could vote in, and by being able to vote, it personally feels like I finally somewhat have a say in my government. In saying that, this law definitely can be seen as a law that legally defines a person. It legally gives the right to a person to participate in government in the form of voting. By being able to vote, it gives the individual a sense of justice and being.


This law can relate to the film, Iron Jawed Angels. It can relate because both are about suffrage. Even though the movie is based on discrimination based on gender and this law is based on discrimination based on age, they both involve rights of suffrage.

Law 1-Driving Age

http://www.tellusdetroit.com/local/student-driver.html, Tell Us USA Media Group, LLC - Detroit, MI

This law pertains to the legal driving age in the state of Georgia. The legal age to operate a vehicle is 16 years old. These teenagers are given the right to a drivers license if they pass a simple driving test. Upon turning 16 and receiving their license, these young adults take on a whole new responsibility of having their life and the lives of others in their hands by driving a car. These kids have been driving with their parents with a permit for a year, but they are still very inexperienced compared to most of the other drivers out there on the roads. Parents are the main influence in letting their kids get their drivers license as well as letting them drive. It is the parents responsibility to teach these kids how to drive as well as teach them all the responsibility that comes with driving. Ultimately, the parents decide if their kids should try and get their license at the age of 16. 

http://safeteendrivingclub.wordpress.com/

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This law does not effect me personally right now, but it did when I turned sixteen. I understand how getting a drivers license gives teenagers a feeling of accomplishment and empowerment. However, with this comes great responsibility, which can be hard to understand at the age of 16. That is why this law is so unique and in a sense defines who a person is. By giving these kids the privilege of driving, this law defines these teenagers as they inch closer to adulthood. It doesn't define them as a adult in society, but it does define these teenagers as apart of the society because they hold responsibility with an official government document.